Looking back it’s easy to spot; that moment when an imperious manager peaks before tumbling over the edge, but at the time this moment is almost impossible to see. The moment Jock Stein peered over the mountain was absolutely impossible to identify at the time.
Celtic qualified for the 1970 European Cup final by beating English champions, Leeds United, home and away, and were hot favourites to lift the trophy for the second time in four seasons. They were about to win their fifth consecutive league title and would go on to make record a world record nine-in-a-row, meaning there was a mountain of ‘evidence’ obscuring the peak from view.
We were the most feared side in football in April 1970 but that team’s time as a European heavyweight was over. Stein remained a further eight seasons but he never beat another team from one of the large European leagues. A 1975 win over a relatively obscure Boavista was his best result* in the period before he was replaced in 1978.
The reverence Jock is rightly held in by all Celtic fans now was tested during the 70s when I remember tactics and even minor decisions, like substitutions, were being questioned by large sections of the support. It all ended in ignominy in 1978, fifth in the league and sacked in a clumsy and misleading fashion.
Jock was still a good manager and did well with Scotland but he should have moved on from Celtic years earlier.
Fans of other clubs will always see the moment of inflection before those too close to the event, but even Arsenal fans are now politely making the case that their once-supreme manager is no longer suitable for purpose. Anyone suggesting that Arsene Wenger was finished in 2004 would have been certified. His team had just won the league undefeated, the first team to do so since the 19th century. They won the FA Cup on penalties the following season and reached the Champions League final a year after that, but they have not lifted a trophy since 2005. Wenger was a fine 2004 vintage but has disappointed since.
After a slow start at Manchester United, Alex Ferguson has managed to remain at the top for 20 years. His most important ability appears to be to know when to change coaches, players and tactics. It has long been said that the best managers were not great players as they needed to acquire a conscious insight on the game which gifted players inherently knew. Perhaps enduringly great managers are not even tactical geniuses, it’s more important that they can just spot a few.
Ordered the CQN Annual yet? Get it here in time for Christmas!
Remember being a teenager?** The excitement of waiting for news of the latest pop charts was big news for some. You can relive your youth buy BUYING ROD STEWART’S single before Sunday.
* In European competition, between beating Leeds and when Jock left in 1978, Celtic eliminated Kokkola, Waterford, B1903 Copenhagen, Sliema Wanderers, Ujpest Doza, Rosenborg, Turku, Vejle, Basel, Valur, Boavista and Jeunesse d’Esch. They lost to Ajax, Inter Milan, Ujpest Doza, Atletico Madrid, Olympiakos, Sachsenring Zwickau and Wisla Krakow. And Feyenoord, of course.
** CQN demographics suggest for most of you, your teenage years are now a distant memory.
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Here’s some 1970’s London working girls with The Stranglers.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rxc9A6HyoLE
@Ntassoolla
Or – doing their nails? tee – hee
Looking forward to going to the game tomorrow- I feel we may get a few goals .
The squad / management have done so well this season with some great results and performances , it does seem a bit strange that in the SPL home games the results and performances have been below expectations.
Despite smaller crowds and poorer results than we would expect, I’ve not sensed mass dissent amongst our supporters at the end of games , there is patience and hope with this team , however it’s time for the team to lift the support rather than the other way around.
Hope he sticks with 3 at the back and wing backs tomorrow , the last few games NL has played this it’s improved the width in the team and seems to have helped break teams down.
It’ll still be tough because they’ll employ the all out defense approach unless they concede 2 (which hopefully they will 1rst half)
Anyhow for what it’s worth here’s my team for goals tomorrow.
Forster
Ambrose Wilson Mulgrew
Matthews Brown Wanyama Ledley Izzy
Samaras Hooper
Zaluska
Lustig
Kayal
Mcgeogh
Watt
Lassad
Miku
If Lustig is fit enough he may come in for Izzy with Mulgew moving up to AML.
I’m going for Celtic to win to nil , by +2 and Ambrose anytime goalscorer and a wee celebration.
Enjoy the game bhoys
Hail Hail
JP
over and out :P
Ntassoolla,
scum who last night told CQN, Liverpool supporters are 100% responsible for Hillsborough.
Police were innocent bystanders caught out by a ticketless mob.
Scum Ntass.., coventry is too good for it
Tarrent,
free speech should accept responsibiltiy and all that comes with it, free speech does not mean free pass
Another alcohol induced post
Ghuys ignore propaganda from dark side
Eventually truth will out
petec
this week you were looking for choons inspired by Oasis for Aidan – my lad loves Song 2 by Blur, and from that got into other Blur, but mostly he likes loud guitar, so try these totally leftfield efforts,, from my misic that he liked:
Okkervil River – http://youtu.be/gN7FyzHM9Xo
Clutch: http://youtu.be/xh7pqoO9NLU
I would add rthat my dad, on hearing Clutch on my car stero, asked for the album,so it appeals to 3 generations of my family.
Neil canamalar Lennon hunskelper extrordinaire
02:05 on 15 December, 2012
“My Birth year, I’m Gemini.
I’m thinking Dunblane, I’m also thinking control.”
what Christian defines itself by pagan references except a hypocrite, bad fire for you matey boy.
night night n
hail hail
_______________________________________________
You are very sad, I am very sorry to say.
My email is very open to you, I am still fighting demons but my Heart is true, I will always try to help people, especially those that really need help. The starving Kid in Africa needs no Spiritual help, it is the very lost bawbags who blow hard on the internet whilst pontificating that need loadsa help. I need LOADS of Help on the Internet and I am not ashamed to admit it, just a complimentary comment can make the World of difference, even to my hardened attitude to life.
You blasted philvisreturns last week as being a Mason, you may be right or totally wrong but you just blasted hard as you see him as Right and therefore wrong.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qHYOXyy1ToI
the highlight of my week was the women, and not in that way! my colleagues had raised money and sent a mother and weans (in care, on the run, abusive husband) on their 1st holiday, we had the thankyou letters, tears close to my eyes saying this..
Rasc,
ever the thinker… you’re gonna get in to trouble with that ;)
Switzerland And Canada…..
Have Similar Levels Of Public Gun Ownership To The United States……
But One Would Struggle To Recall Mention Of Gun-Related Atrocities…
In Either Country…..
The Manchurian Candidate….
Is Looking For A Pretext…..
To Remove Guns From The Civilian Population……
Having Failed When His Infamous ‘Fast And Furious’ Operation……
Running Guns From A US Government Agency…..
To Mexican Drug Barons Across The Border……
A Crime Which Should Have Seen Obama….
And His Chief Justice Holder…..
Impeached….
And Obama Also Talked At The Start Of His Last Term….
Of Setting Up A New ‘Civilian Militia’….
His Own Secret Police Stormtroopers..
And Now He’s Expanding The Pentagon..
So That It Has Overseas Operators And Networks….
To Rival Those Of The CIA…..
Who Are Clearly Not Submissive Enough To Him …
And To The Aims Of His Marxist And Muslim Brotherhood Buddies…..
Bet The Gun Shops In The US Will Double Their Trade For The Next Few Months…..
Time For The Good Folk To Cling To Their Guns And Their Bibles…..
Neil canamalar Lennon hunskelper extrordinaire
02:16 on 15 December, 2012
Tarrent,
free speech should accept responsibiltiy and all that comes with it, free speech does not mean free pass
———————————-
Yeh I agree, i think your point needs to be directed towards petec and TSD, same as mine was.
Good reply TwinBhoy.
Neil can I see that last night you continued to vent your spleen but against ACGR. Bad move. You’ll always come off second best against him.
Just try to remember what he said
– I’m not responsible for what Ntassoolla posts or your interpretation of it –
You are responsible for what you post in the same way as a man with dysentery is responsible for his number twos.
Neil can whose number two are you?
petec,
correct, anyone who believes charity is the natural way has a problem with Christianity, to be one of gods children and be denied the rights of a child of god is the devils way.
Nothing sad about me, I demand gods children are treated equally, you and your fascist friends have decided some of gods children are more equal than others.
YOU need to reasses
somethin inside so strong
Hail Hail
WE are lucky
B-)
TSD,
I confess I can’t work out whether you’re committed to what you say, or whether it’s some perverse attempt at a wind-up.
If it’s the former, I’m worried for you. If it’s the latter, I’m worried for you
Love n kisses
@Ntassoolla
Do you only eat sausage suppers?
petec @02:21 on there’s always someone worse off than yourself. Just look at nil can. An embittered wee leftie clinging to the politics of yesterday.
Anyway.
Peace to all men.
Victory to Celtic.
“I wish we had wings! I wish rainwater was beer Matthew! But it isn’t! . . . And what with not having wings but walking-on two flat feet; and good luck and bad luck being just exactly even stevens; and rain being water—don’t you complicate the job by putting things in me for me to miss!”
Police Story
“The Manchurian Candidate….
Is Looking For A Pretext…..
To Remove Guns From The Civilian Population……”
You say this like it is a bad idea. Does the “civilian population” – in any country – USA, Switzerland, UK, Canada, or other – need Guns?
“And To The Aims Of His Marxist And Muslim Brotherhood Buddies…..”
Gonnae explain to the unenlightened among us how Barack Obama’s administration is either or both of Marxist or Muslim etc…or supportive of either.
Twinbhoy I’ve no idea what you’re on about.
canamalar,
me and my fascists friends, FFS,
LOL
The Man who is trying to promote the Book of Thomas.
In the End all that is left is the Truth.
NN
A man for all seasons, there was a fillum
Tarrant the stuff being posted by TSD is standard fare on any right wing American site.
He’s a cut and paste merchant.
Check it for yourself.
What’s my Motivation
Ntass…,
myself and A Ceiler…, dealt with it last night, and contrary to your drivel, worked it, you shame him bringing his name into this. As for your crap about coming second, well I got offered lunch once he caught up, you are still scum, I suppose everyone has a handicap.
In future scroll on by scum.
JQB I must have watched it 20 times.
Jimmy
He’s you or me.
And that’s why I like him.
Even though he’s a fud.
Neil canamalar Lennon hunskelper extrordinaire
02:40 on 15 December, 2012
Ntass…,
myself and A Ceiler…, dealt with it last night, and contrary to your drivel, worked it, you shame him bringing his name into this. As for your crap about coming second, well I got offered lunch once he caught up, you are still scum, I suppose everyone has a handicap.
In future scroll on by scum.
______________________________________________________________
I didn’t see you settle the differences, I saw you bottle it.
So don’t act the Kingpin.
Neil can when A Ceiler had a go you were spouting from both ends simultaneously. You jobbied it.
TSD & Kojo both seem to have ‘cracked a six-pack’ with Red Foxx at the same time.
Sounds like a psychotically schizophrenic drunken menage tae me……
petec,
no one promoted the thomas gospel, you need to go back and read that discourse sober.
well done petec. We simultaneously posted the same thing.
Now you’ll be another of my highly paid MSM conspiracy.
BTW Twinbhoy feel free to ask for an expansion of any TLA’s you don’t understand on here.
TLA – a three letter abbreviation.
what a pair of clowns, but if thats your want, I will go visit A Ceiler…, tomorrow at his lunch Coias offer, and if you two would like to turn up for the fun of it, we’ll deal with it then.
cant say fairer than that can I
especially you Ntass
Right. Beddy byes.
Nil Can slapped down two nights running.
Joy on earth.
Rasc,
I made a promise to myself a few years ago to try and not judge. This wasn’t an opt out, but a reflections on what a tit I’ve been.
Unfortunately, I rarely keep that promise. I blame the parents
I struggle to understand the rationale behind his posts, is all